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Flexible capacity for a stable grid

To keep the electricity grid stable and reliable, effective congestion management is essential. This requires adjustable, flexible capacity from market participants and large commercial users. This capacity is made available through the GOPACS platform, which serves as the key tool for grid operators. Will you join us?

Together, we manage flexible capacity.

This is how GOPACS works on congestion management

GOPACS is a platform through which grid operators, together with market participants and large consumers, aim to reduce congestion in the electricity grid. In this video, we explain exactly how it works.

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Grid operator tool for the energy market

The GOPACS platform is a tool used by Dutch grid operators for congestion management.

About GOPACS
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Information about congestion

In case of congestion in the electricity grid, grid operators allocate the limited space. This is called congestion management.

About congestion
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Conditions for participation

If you want to participate on the GOPACS platform, you must meet certain conditions.

Conditions to participate

Participate

How to participate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GOPACS for?

GOPACS is the tool by and for grid operators to reduce capacity shortages on the electricity grid, or congestion, to keep the grid reliable and affordable. Hiervoor is regelbaar, flexibel vermogen nodig van marktpartijenengroot zakelijke gebruikers.

GOPACS is a partnership of the Dutch grid operators to engage in joint congestion management. This form of cooperation is unique within Europe. Cooperation ensures that solving a problem in one part of the network does not create a problem in another part of the network.

What are the benefits of participating?

Grid operators increasingly face grid congestion. GOPACS allows participants to easily help resolve congestion situations with their available flexibility. Participating in GOPACS also provides additional earning opportunities with your flexible assets.

The ability of parties in the congestion area and parties outside it is needed. This is because grid operators must maintain balance on the grid at all times. GOPACS thus provides a win-win situation: grid operators can solve congestion situations and participants can generate additional revenue.

Who is interested in participating in GOPACS?

Participation in GOPACS is of interest to any market participant that can influence its electricity consumption or generation. Read more about participating here.

Do I get extra transport capacity faster if I participate in flex bids?

Unfortunately, that is not possible. The grid operators use the date of entry for all applications to determine the order of priority.

Whether or not to participate in making flex bids is separate from that. However, it is of course true that our goal with the flex bids is to reduce congestion situations c.q. fix it and that all customers benefit from it.

What congestion products are available?

On this page you will find more information about that.

Are there purchase guarantees if I submit a bid?

Unfortunately, the grid operator cannot offer off-take guarantees. Whether your bid is taken advantage of depends on the time and location. The system operator selects the bid required to resolve the congestion situation.

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Congestion is a major social problem that is only increasing. That’s why we were one of the first to get in. Powerhouse is convinced that with Gopacs’ platform and our customers’ ability, we can provide a solution to the transportation problem.

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Bernard Wilmet CEO - Powerhouse

GOPACS is the platform through which grid operators jointly unlock, tune and coordinate flexible capacity in the electricity grid. By leveraging the flexibility of our customers and market participants, we can maximize the use of the current energy infrastructure. This is how market forces contribute to an affordable and reliable energy supply

Alliander
Daan Schut CTO - Alliander

We embrace the transparency that GOPACS brings us in several areas: GOPACS clearly identifies where network problems are located and thus where we cannot further upgrade or tune our plants. They also clearly indicate the volumes sought and traded. This transparency benefits competitiveness.

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David Leo Head of Short Term Trading - Engie

In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the cost of solving congestion. TenneT is increasingly deploying the GOPACS platform, making it an important means of preventing congestion. The purpose of this platform is to give more parties with flexibility easy access to a growing market for congestion services. Orders on the GOPACS platform contribute to the most cost-effective resolution of congestion and solutions can come from all grid planes, from all conceivable assets and from across the country.

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Maarten Abbenhuis COO - TenneT

GOPACS creates a win-win situation. The flexible purchase or provision of power by customers, energy suppliers/generators and market participants allows grid operators to make better use of the current power grid. This way we avoid expensive investments and therefore an increase in energy bills. And at the same time, new earning opportunities arise for parties participating in GOPACS. This makes GOPACS a unique initiative, born of intensive cooperation between the Dutch grid operators.

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David Peters CTO - Stedin

By contributing to solving the congestion problem through GOPACS, I have an extension to get more out of my CHP. This offers me a better return.

Rob Oostrom Eigenaar - Kwekerij Lijntje

Optimax Energy is very excited about GOPACS because it allows us, as a young trading company, to participate in a congestion management mechanism in the Netherlands through a very transparent and well-defined process. Energy markets are changing rapidly and we believe that these mechanisms must also evolve to meet the challenges ahead in a more innovative and clear-cut way.

Vitor Campos Power trader - Optimax Energie

Ready to help build a future-proof grid?

Read how you can contribute with your flexible capacity.

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More about congestion management
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